One small step for man, one giant leap for home brewer

[DogboyBrew]

Alright, so I've decided I am ready to make the leap into All Grain. I've brewed a few extract batches with success, but I'm ready to dive into the 'custom' side of recipes. I plan on doing 5 gallon batches(due to space).

My main question is: What are the absolute essentials to get started. I realize that it is nice to have all of the bells and whistles, but what is bare minimum to get started into all grain, I plan on upgrading gradually, so I want to get set-up to be able to start brewing as soon as possible. I have a burner so full boils are not an issue.

1) What size kettle for 5 gallon batches?

2) I have been looking at the igloo cooler mash tun setups and I think thats what I want to go with, so any suggestions on which ones to stay away from? I'd rather not go through 4 before I figure out which one is worth the money.

3) Is a mash paddle necessary or can the same effect be achieved with a metal 'slotted' spoon? Also, is a Hot Liquor tank a necessity, or can I just heat strike water in the kettle?

4) Any helpful tips or advice, or what you would consider necessary equipment?

I appreciate all of the help I've gotten from just browsing the forums, and now am looking for a few more specific answers. Thanks in advance for all the advice and help.

 

[Dopeybrew]

All you would REALLY need is a bag and a big enough pot for what you intend to brew.
I too am making the jump from extract to all grain. But Im going the BIAB route as it is less equipment Id have to get and turn out hating AG brewing. A bigger pot is nice regardless of beer brewing method. So going from a 30qt to a 10gal isn't a big deal, and bags are cheap(ish).

Whatever way you choose to go I wish you well. May all your beers be right.

 

[DogboyBrew]

the BIAB is a method I am definitely considering as a step up, but it seems limited when it comes to recipe kits, especially with only 3 gal, I want to buy equipment for the future, which I guess I could use a 5-6.5 gal fermenter for a 3 gal brew, correct? Or would that be too much headspace? Unless there is somewhere to get BIAB kits for 5 gal batches I haven't stumbled across yet.

 

[youreanimpulse]

I went with 12.5 gal for 5-7 gal batches and I'm happy with it. I mostly read double batch size for boil kettle size. I use two vessels, so strike/sparge heats in the boil kettle and a cooler mashtun, works great. I just got a Coleman Xtreme cooler (72 qt, rather big for me but it's working and I have room to grow) and got parts to convert it from bargainfittings.com. Super easy and works great for batch sparge. For fly sparge you'll want a round cooler. There are so many other things you should have it's hard to comment unless I know what you're missing.


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[youreanimpulse]

Oh, and I like my paddle better than my spoon for breaking up dough balls and stirring the mash. YMMV.


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[SeeMont]

I'd say a 10 Gallon cooler for a mash tun, at least a 10 gallon brew kettle. I picked up a used 5 gallon kettle for strike water (Goodwill), I carved out my own paddle (you will bend a spoon) I picked up a used hot plate to keep water hot.

 

[Staylow]

When I made the jump to all grain, I bought a 50 quart square/rectangle Coleman 5 day extreme cooler. It holds temp exceptionally well. It's about $30 at Wal-Mart. I originally used mostly brass fittings and a brass ball valve, but recently upgraded to all stainless. I also picked up a 5 gallon round Igloo to serve as an HLT, which IMO, is necessary to keep your sparge water at temp.

As for kettle, I have a 10.5 gallon stainless Polar Ware that I skate by with. My boil volume for a 5.5 gallon batch is 7.9 gallons for a 60 minute boil, and 8.5 for a 90 minute - it comes very, very close to boiling over, but it works.

Get a wooden mash paddle. That way you can make notches in it for highly accurate and scientific volume measurements in the kettle.

Also get a GOOD digital thermometer, if you don't already have one.

Finally, a copper immersion chiller if you don't have one. You can get by without one, possibly by using a no chill method, or spending hours in an ice bath, but I think it would save you a ton of time and headache.

I think that covers it for essentials, though if it were me, my next two upgrades after those would be a grain mill, and a ph meter.

 

[Dopeybrew]

the BIAB is a method I am definitely considering as a step up, but it seems limited when it comes to recipe kits, especially with only 3 gal, I want to buy equipment for the future, which I guess I could use a 5-6.5 gal fermenter for a 3 gal brew, correct? Or would that be too much headspace? Unless there is somewhere to get BIAB kits for 5 gal batches I haven't stumbled across yet.

Just use standard 5 gallon kits. You would need a bigger pot(10gal min depending on grain bill) but other than that(and the bag) thats really all you would need.

3 gallon batches are for the standard 30L brew pots.

 

[muels]

Do as much DIY as you can (mash paddle, wort chiller, brew stand, valve kits, mash tun, grain mill set up, etc.). That way you can spend money where it matters; larger kettle, good thermometer, pH meter, refractometer. It doesn't matter how pretty all your gear is, you will make the best beer by taking accurate measurements.

Edited to add... If there is even a remote possibility you will ever do 10 gallon batches buy the 62 quart bayou classic boil kettle up front. It's 99 bucks on amazon. The 10 gallon is 81 bucks. That's a no brainer unless you are absolutely positive you won't use it.

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